ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS ADMITTED TO THE EMERGENCY UNIT OF A UNIVERSITY CHILDRENS-HOSPITAL IN TURKEY

A retrospective analysis of the computerized data of patients admitted to our Emergency Unit Inpatient Service in 1991 was conducted to obta in data about age, sex, referred sources, admission period, monthly ad mission rates, diagnoses and eventual outcome. More than 47% of patien ts were younger than one year of age. The most common causes for hospi tal admission were infectious, respiratory and neurological diseases. The mean hospitalization period was 3.26 days. More than 60% of patien ts were treated by the Emergency Unit staff. The net mortality rate wa s 2.9%, infectious diseases being the most common cause of mortality. We conclude that demographic and diagnostic data regarding admissions to the Emergency Unit can be utilized to develop new strategies for pa tient care and to reorganize education programs for pediatric resident s.